Keeping a Cool Head
Neurosurgeons are counteracting brain trauma by lowering the body heat of their patients.
By: Dinha Kaplan
Sprain a knee and your doctor will tell you to ice the injury to prevent swelling. Now neurosurgeons are applying the same principle to people with severe head injuries.
By lowering patients' body temperature to a relatively chilly 88 degrees Fahrenheit, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) are counteracting one of most troublesome side effects of brain trauma. The body's inflammatory response often produces swelling in newly injured tissues, whether in the ankle or cerebrum. But since the skull's rigidity doesn't let a swelling brain expand, pressure can build inside the head after an injury. "If the pressure gets high enough, it cuts off the blood supply to the brain," notes UPMC neurosurgeon Donald Marion, M.D. Such "secondary injuries" are responsible for up to half of the neurological problems that plague brain-injured people after an accident.
In a study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, Marion's team was able to boost the odds of recovery by chilling the brain (and the rest of the body) for 24 hours after the trauma. Among brain-injured patients who were unconscious but not comatose upon arriving at the E.R., 55 percent were back at work six months later if their brains had been cooled after their injury. Only 12 percent of those who didn't receive the treatment were able to return to work or school in that time.
Psychology Today Magazine, Jul/Aug 1997Last Reviewed 24 Mar 2008Article ID: 863
http://www.psychologytoday.com/rss/pto-19970701-000006.html
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Shakespeare
Live in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed,
Stew'd in corruption,
honeying and making love ove the nasty sty!
from Hamlet
Stew'd in corruption,
honeying and making love ove the nasty sty!
from Hamlet
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Shannon and Craig on their nuptuals on March 19, 2008, Birmingham, Alabama. Love you bunches and best wishes to you, my friends!Saturday, February 09, 2008
Busch and Stewart trade bumps, words at Daytona
By David Newton
ESPN.com
Updated: February 9, 2008, 12:57 AM ET
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR chairman Brian France kicked off the 2008 media tour in Charlotte, N.C., last month by saying Sprint Cup drivers needed to show more of their personalities.
Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart obliged on Friday night.
Two of NASCAR's most controversial characters got into a sheet metal exchange on pit road after an on-the-track incident that wrecked both of their cars in the final practice for Saturday's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.
Both drivers immediately were summoned to the NASCAR hauler to meet with Series director John Darby and competition director Robin Pemberton. They will meet again on Saturday before the governing body determines what fines, if any, will be issued.
The only words spoken by either driver -- both left through a side door without commenting -- came from Busch before entering the hauler.
"It's a great way to start off 2008," he said, clapping his hands together.
It was more like the way NASCAR started the 1979 season, when Bobby and Donnie Allison got into a fight with Cale Yarborough in the infield grass following an altercation on the last lap of the Daytona 500 to spark national interest in the sport.
"This is the NASCAR everybody fell in love with," said NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter, playing off France's back-to-the-basics theme. "Emotions run high."
Hunter said what happened showed the fine line between letting drivers be themselves and crossing the line where safety becomes an issue.
"It's going to be difficult as a matter of fact," he said on how NASCAR would handle such situations. "Professional race drivers need to control their emotions when they're in the racecar. And we've shown in the past that we'll do whatever we need to do to make sure they do. After tomorrow's meeting we'll see where we are."
Hunter said the history of the drivers would not be a factor in any fines. Busch was fined $100,000 and docked 100 championship points in June after sending Stewart into a barrier at Dover and nearly hitting a member of Stewart's crew making additional contact on pit road.
He also was parked for the remainder of the race.
"It's a new season," Hunter said. "You said earlier today it was quiet. It's not quiet now."
Those weren't the only fireworks of the night session. Moments prior to that incident Ryan Newman spun out after a tap from Clint Bowyer. His car slid up the track and took out two-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon.
Both drivers will use backups, not their Daytona 500 car, in the Shootout. The car in which Johnson won both races at Richmond last season and was scheduled to be tested at Nashville is expected to arrive at Daytona on Saturday morning for Johnson. Bill Elliott, David Gilliland and Carl Edwards also were involved in that accident.
Newman said the speeds were marginally fast and suggested that NASCAR should do something to lower them before the race. Darby said the speeds were well below the concern area and nothing was being planned. "The fastest I saw was 192 mph," Darby said. "We usually race at 195."
Speed had nothing to do with what happened between Stewart and Busch, who spun into the wall after a tap from Stewart. Busch felt Stewart caused the accident with the bump. Stewart felt Busch caused it by blocking.
"This was a typical reaction for an accident on a racetrack when neither driver felt they were at fault," Hunter said. "Anytime there's an accident, there's difference of opinions on why the accident happened."
Hunter declined to compare the incident to any others, specifically one last season in which Kevin Harvick and Juan Pablo Montoya got out of their cars and shoved each other after an accident at Watkins Glen. Neither driver was fined.
"There's a lot of emotion in driving a racecar, and this is an example of that," Hunter said. "Both drivers were emotional."
That crew members were not on pit road will factor into NASCAR's decision on a penalty.
"If the pit crews are out on pit road, it's very dangerous," Hunter said. "Under a circumstance where there were people on pit road that would be different than what happened."
Gordon, standing in the garage talking to crew chief Steve Letarte, couldn't take his eyes off the big screen television as the Busch and Stewart saga unfolded.
Ironically, Gordon pointed specifically to Busch and Stewart earlier this year as drivers that have buried their personality for fear of being punished by NASCAR.
Gordon predicted Saturday night's race would be wild.
"I think we're going to see a lot of things like this happening because the drafting is so severe that there is a lot of movement going on out there," he said. "It's going to be exciting. I've been saying it's going to be exciting and I think there is a whole lot of excitement yet to come."
Newman agreed.
"It's not pretty," he said. "We're the crash-test dummies out there in a round-about way trying to figure out the new car at Daytona. The cars aren't handling very well. It's not the ideal racecar right now."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. saw the second wreck as a good reason to park for the rest of the session.
"I saw cars spinning everywhere," he said. "Looked like the No. 2 [Busch] was trying to block the No. 20 [Stewart] and Tony tried to go to the high side. It has been a wild practice out there. It is going to be interesting to see how this all unfolds.
"We liked our car really from the get-go right off the trailer so we weren't going to practice too much. That was a good enough reason to quit right there."
David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@aol.com.
ESPN.com
Updated: February 9, 2008, 12:57 AM ET
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR chairman Brian France kicked off the 2008 media tour in Charlotte, N.C., last month by saying Sprint Cup drivers needed to show more of their personalities.
Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart obliged on Friday night.
Two of NASCAR's most controversial characters got into a sheet metal exchange on pit road after an on-the-track incident that wrecked both of their cars in the final practice for Saturday's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.
Both drivers immediately were summoned to the NASCAR hauler to meet with Series director John Darby and competition director Robin Pemberton. They will meet again on Saturday before the governing body determines what fines, if any, will be issued.
The only words spoken by either driver -- both left through a side door without commenting -- came from Busch before entering the hauler.
"It's a great way to start off 2008," he said, clapping his hands together.
It was more like the way NASCAR started the 1979 season, when Bobby and Donnie Allison got into a fight with Cale Yarborough in the infield grass following an altercation on the last lap of the Daytona 500 to spark national interest in the sport.
"This is the NASCAR everybody fell in love with," said NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter, playing off France's back-to-the-basics theme. "Emotions run high."
Hunter said what happened showed the fine line between letting drivers be themselves and crossing the line where safety becomes an issue.
"It's going to be difficult as a matter of fact," he said on how NASCAR would handle such situations. "Professional race drivers need to control their emotions when they're in the racecar. And we've shown in the past that we'll do whatever we need to do to make sure they do. After tomorrow's meeting we'll see where we are."
Hunter said the history of the drivers would not be a factor in any fines. Busch was fined $100,000 and docked 100 championship points in June after sending Stewart into a barrier at Dover and nearly hitting a member of Stewart's crew making additional contact on pit road.
He also was parked for the remainder of the race.
"It's a new season," Hunter said. "You said earlier today it was quiet. It's not quiet now."
Those weren't the only fireworks of the night session. Moments prior to that incident Ryan Newman spun out after a tap from Clint Bowyer. His car slid up the track and took out two-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon.
Both drivers will use backups, not their Daytona 500 car, in the Shootout. The car in which Johnson won both races at Richmond last season and was scheduled to be tested at Nashville is expected to arrive at Daytona on Saturday morning for Johnson. Bill Elliott, David Gilliland and Carl Edwards also were involved in that accident.
Newman said the speeds were marginally fast and suggested that NASCAR should do something to lower them before the race. Darby said the speeds were well below the concern area and nothing was being planned. "The fastest I saw was 192 mph," Darby said. "We usually race at 195."
Speed had nothing to do with what happened between Stewart and Busch, who spun into the wall after a tap from Stewart. Busch felt Stewart caused the accident with the bump. Stewart felt Busch caused it by blocking.
"This was a typical reaction for an accident on a racetrack when neither driver felt they were at fault," Hunter said. "Anytime there's an accident, there's difference of opinions on why the accident happened."
Hunter declined to compare the incident to any others, specifically one last season in which Kevin Harvick and Juan Pablo Montoya got out of their cars and shoved each other after an accident at Watkins Glen. Neither driver was fined.
"There's a lot of emotion in driving a racecar, and this is an example of that," Hunter said. "Both drivers were emotional."
That crew members were not on pit road will factor into NASCAR's decision on a penalty.
"If the pit crews are out on pit road, it's very dangerous," Hunter said. "Under a circumstance where there were people on pit road that would be different than what happened."
Gordon, standing in the garage talking to crew chief Steve Letarte, couldn't take his eyes off the big screen television as the Busch and Stewart saga unfolded.
Ironically, Gordon pointed specifically to Busch and Stewart earlier this year as drivers that have buried their personality for fear of being punished by NASCAR.
Gordon predicted Saturday night's race would be wild.
"I think we're going to see a lot of things like this happening because the drafting is so severe that there is a lot of movement going on out there," he said. "It's going to be exciting. I've been saying it's going to be exciting and I think there is a whole lot of excitement yet to come."
Newman agreed.
"It's not pretty," he said. "We're the crash-test dummies out there in a round-about way trying to figure out the new car at Daytona. The cars aren't handling very well. It's not the ideal racecar right now."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. saw the second wreck as a good reason to park for the rest of the session.
"I saw cars spinning everywhere," he said. "Looked like the No. 2 [Busch] was trying to block the No. 20 [Stewart] and Tony tried to go to the high side. It has been a wild practice out there. It is going to be interesting to see how this all unfolds.
"We liked our car really from the get-go right off the trailer so we weren't going to practice too much. That was a good enough reason to quit right there."
David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@aol.com.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Announcement
Pfizer Corp. (NYSE PFE) is making the announcement today that VIAGRA will soon be available in liquid form and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola (Pepsi Bottling Group NYSE PBG) as a power beverage suitable for use as-is, or as a mixer, under the name "Mount And Do". Pepsi's proposed ad campaign suggests: "It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one."
The Human Body
The human body is a machine that is full of wonder.
This collection of human body facts will leave you wondering why in the heck we were designed the way we were.
-Scientists say the higher your I.Q. The more you dream.
-The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm.
-You use 200 muscles to take one step.
-The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man.
-Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three.
-A pair of human feet contains 250,000 sweat glands.
-A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball.
-The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades.
-The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica.
-It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.
-The average human dream lasts 2-3 seconds.
-Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair...
-At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell.
-There is about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.
-Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil.
-The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body.
-Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born.
-When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, and they do the same when you are looking at someone you hate.
-Your thumb is the same length as your nose.
At this very moment I know full well you are putting this last fact to the test...now remove your thumb from your nose and pass this on to the friends you think might be interested in comparing their thumbs to their noses as well.
This collection of human body facts will leave you wondering why in the heck we were designed the way we were.
-Scientists say the higher your I.Q. The more you dream.
-The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm.
-You use 200 muscles to take one step.
-The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man.
-Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three.
-A pair of human feet contains 250,000 sweat glands.
-A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball.
-The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades.
-The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica.
-It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.
-The average human dream lasts 2-3 seconds.
-Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair...
-At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell.
-There is about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.
-Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil.
-The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body.
-Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born.
-When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, and they do the same when you are looking at someone you hate.
-Your thumb is the same length as your nose.
At this very moment I know full well you are putting this last fact to the test...now remove your thumb from your nose and pass this on to the friends you think might be interested in comparing their thumbs to their noses as well.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Weekend Update
Well I must say it certainly has been an interesting weekend.
I feel better now that I've cleared the air with a close friend. In doing so, I think I helped her out with an issue. I just can't wait for her to move here from out of state. Even though there is an age difference, we do seem to have a lot in common.
I am still working on another issue with a wise friend. I'm hoping that the stupid mistakes I made will not permanently affect our relationship. I should have listened to her in the first place instead of HIM. I will accept whatever she deems necessary.
I've had loads of fun this weekend with DJ, Jen, and Talia. Now if only the camera was working, I'd post pictures. I never thought I would ever have fun like this. I feel so free to be myself. I am being accepted for who I am.
I must say that the past two years I have been living indoors way too much. Living under someone else's thumb, rules, whatever you want to call it, really is quite a bummer. I am an adult and I can do what I please. The only way someone can dictate what I do is if they are my father or my husband.
I have determined that I am going back to the person I once was. I won't take any bull, certainly not from a man. I will not trust a man until my friends feel comfortable with him. It's too bad I had to go through so much crap and loss to figure this out.
In closing, I hope I will be able to continue to enjoy myself even though I am possibly terminally ill. No, I'm not trying to seek attention by mentioning it. I am not comfortable speaking of it to anyone either. It's apparent though that I have so much more to live for now, I want to enjoy it as much as possible.
Love to you all and be safe!
I feel better now that I've cleared the air with a close friend. In doing so, I think I helped her out with an issue. I just can't wait for her to move here from out of state. Even though there is an age difference, we do seem to have a lot in common.
I am still working on another issue with a wise friend. I'm hoping that the stupid mistakes I made will not permanently affect our relationship. I should have listened to her in the first place instead of HIM. I will accept whatever she deems necessary.
I've had loads of fun this weekend with DJ, Jen, and Talia. Now if only the camera was working, I'd post pictures. I never thought I would ever have fun like this. I feel so free to be myself. I am being accepted for who I am.
I must say that the past two years I have been living indoors way too much. Living under someone else's thumb, rules, whatever you want to call it, really is quite a bummer. I am an adult and I can do what I please. The only way someone can dictate what I do is if they are my father or my husband.
I have determined that I am going back to the person I once was. I won't take any bull, certainly not from a man. I will not trust a man until my friends feel comfortable with him. It's too bad I had to go through so much crap and loss to figure this out.
In closing, I hope I will be able to continue to enjoy myself even though I am possibly terminally ill. No, I'm not trying to seek attention by mentioning it. I am not comfortable speaking of it to anyone either. It's apparent though that I have so much more to live for now, I want to enjoy it as much as possible.
Love to you all and be safe!
Friday, January 18, 2008
LOL...my ramblings...
Do you all know that song "Micky"? Well today I was working hard, singing that song, and instead of the name Micky, I put in DJ. LOL! How hilarious is that?! Like I said yesterday, strange and wonderful things do happen. I've waited so long for this! I actually went to see High Priest today after work and told him what has been going on with me. I know I haven't seen High Priest for a while but he still welcomed me with open arms and blessed me. He told me that I am a good person and that after all I've been through, this is my gift. Someone who cares for, and respects, the person that I am. High Priest knows that I've been channelling within dreams and he told me that I won't have to do that much longer. Astral-projection is so cool when you can see other people's dreams! Anyway, back to DJ. Thank you dear for coming into my life when I was at my lowest point. You are a wonderful person!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Isn't it funny?!
Just when you thought you were in the lowest place in life, you get rewarded by something wonderful! Wow, I must have done something special to deserve this new gift! I thought I wasn't worth a damn and come to find out it wasn't me that was the problem this whole time. It was the tiny little limp dick shmuck that I've had the displeasure of being with these past two years. My newest reward is I guess payment for what I've had to endure. Dealing with cheating, lying, and all-out disrespect deserves receiving such a wonderful gift! My friend's brother has graced my life with shining beams of sunlight. He is such a wonderful person. I can't believe there's someone as awesome as him!
Confessions
Confessions of a middle aged "victim"
I am a player but get caught because I don't know the game.
I am weak, I can't control my urges.
I was loved and trusted but threw it away for lust.
I am well-liked by children but can't talk to them appropriately.
I had two female friends for five years but lost them because I said bad things about them.
I had a woman for two years but lost her because I did bad things to her.
I am a broken man.
I am in pain.
Have I learned my lesson yet?
I should prove to the world that I will get help for my reckless behavior.
I am a broken man.
I have been cursed.
I am a player but get caught because I don't know the game.
I am weak, I can't control my urges.
I was loved and trusted but threw it away for lust.
I am well-liked by children but can't talk to them appropriately.
I had two female friends for five years but lost them because I said bad things about them.
I had a woman for two years but lost her because I did bad things to her.
I am a broken man.
I am in pain.
Have I learned my lesson yet?
I should prove to the world that I will get help for my reckless behavior.
I am a broken man.
I have been cursed.
Too bad...
So...I come to find out that you've dipped your ink pen in many different wells. Too bad you didn't cover your tracks very well. As for my young sprite, it was advised to you on how careful you should be. Too bad you didn't heed the warning. Alas, none of us who were involved with you exist to you any longer. We curse you, we curse you, we curse you. My only wish is that the new love takes care of herself. I'm furious that we all have to do the same. Son, I'd hoped this situation would have turned out better but you must have gotten hit by the lying stick. Oh and the stupid stick too since crack kills the brain cells.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Here goes...
You know, you are really making people quite ill. If flaunting were a sin, you'd be burning in hell right now. Honestly, what have I ever done for you to seek revenge upon me in this fashion. Are you truly that selfish! We all know lying is a sin, but lying to cover your ass because you got caught in lies is pathetic. Good luck because she's going to need it and an extra pair or two of eyes.
What a curve ball!
You know, it's interesting, you get so blinded by love that you just don't truly see what's right in front of you. Maybe you just don't want to believe it could happen. You get so many plans in your mind, you want to do so many things with the one you love. You work hard so you can someday treat the one you love to something special. Maybe as you were working so hard for your dream that your love just couldn't wait. Hmmm...I just don't know. Ah but I do know this, if you ever have any doubts, then they're more than likely true.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Understanding Hodgkin's
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is not a common cancer. According to the American Cancer Society Facts and Figures, 2004, about 7,880 new cases are expected to be diagnosed. Hodgkin’s lymphoma occurs mainly in young adults, with a peak occurrence between the ages of 16 and 34. Older patients, especially those over the age of 55, may also develop this disease.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that is thought to arise from an abnormal lymphocyte. The disease was named after Thomas Hodgkin, the British doctor who first identified this disease in 1832, long before the existence and function of lymphocytes were known. Because for many years the cell of origin was unknown, doctors referred to this illness as Hodgkin's disease. Since the cell of origin is now known to be a lymphocyte, the disease is now considered a type of lymphoma. All other types of lymphoma are referred to as non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and arise from either abnormal B-cells (most commonly) or T-cells (less commonly).
Most people with Hodgkin’s lymphoma have abnormal cells called Reed-Sternberg (R-S) cells. Other abnormal cell types may be present as well. However, the presence of R-S cells alone does not mean that an individual has Hodgkin’s lymphoma. To confirm a diagnosis, the lymphatic tissue sample that contains Reed-Sternberg cells must also be surrounded by a background of other cells and features that are characteristic of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A pathologist may use immunological tests that look for cell surface markers (antigens) that identify specific cell types in order to help make the diagnosis.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma has been studied more than any other type of lymphoma. The good news is that there have been rapid advances in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, and over 80% of patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma are cured.
WHAT CAUSES HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA
The exact causes are unknown. Doctors cannot explain why one person gets Hodgkin’s lymphoma and another does not. We do know that Hodgkin’s lymphoma is not caused by an injury and that you cannot get it by being in contact with someone who has the disease.
Several factors (called risk factors) have been implicated as playing a role in Hodgkin’s lymphoma. People who have been infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (which causes mononucleosis) may be more likely to develop Hodgkin’s lymphoma. HIV infection is also a risk factor. Some evidence also seems to suggest that family members of those with Hodgkin’s lymphoma have a higher-than-average chance of developing the disease.
It is important to note that if you have one or more of these risk factors, it does not mean that you will get Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In fact, most people with risk factors never develop the disease. Many who are diagnosed have no identifiable risk factors.
HOW HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA DEVELOPS
Hodgkin’s lymphoma usually starts in lymph nodes. Since lymph tissues all over the body are connected, abnormal (cancerous) lymphocytes can circulate in the lymphatic vessels. As a result, Hodgkin’s lymphoma often spreads from one lymph node to another throughout the body. Hodgkin’s lymphoma can also spread to other areas and organs outside the lymph system. Unlike other lymphomas, Hodgkin’s lymphoma tends to spread more in sequence from one lymph node area to the next, skipping areas less frequently than NHL.
http://www.lymphoma.org/
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that is thought to arise from an abnormal lymphocyte. The disease was named after Thomas Hodgkin, the British doctor who first identified this disease in 1832, long before the existence and function of lymphocytes were known. Because for many years the cell of origin was unknown, doctors referred to this illness as Hodgkin's disease. Since the cell of origin is now known to be a lymphocyte, the disease is now considered a type of lymphoma. All other types of lymphoma are referred to as non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and arise from either abnormal B-cells (most commonly) or T-cells (less commonly).
Most people with Hodgkin’s lymphoma have abnormal cells called Reed-Sternberg (R-S) cells. Other abnormal cell types may be present as well. However, the presence of R-S cells alone does not mean that an individual has Hodgkin’s lymphoma. To confirm a diagnosis, the lymphatic tissue sample that contains Reed-Sternberg cells must also be surrounded by a background of other cells and features that are characteristic of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A pathologist may use immunological tests that look for cell surface markers (antigens) that identify specific cell types in order to help make the diagnosis.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma has been studied more than any other type of lymphoma. The good news is that there have been rapid advances in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, and over 80% of patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma are cured.
WHAT CAUSES HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA
The exact causes are unknown. Doctors cannot explain why one person gets Hodgkin’s lymphoma and another does not. We do know that Hodgkin’s lymphoma is not caused by an injury and that you cannot get it by being in contact with someone who has the disease.
Several factors (called risk factors) have been implicated as playing a role in Hodgkin’s lymphoma. People who have been infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (which causes mononucleosis) may be more likely to develop Hodgkin’s lymphoma. HIV infection is also a risk factor. Some evidence also seems to suggest that family members of those with Hodgkin’s lymphoma have a higher-than-average chance of developing the disease.
It is important to note that if you have one or more of these risk factors, it does not mean that you will get Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In fact, most people with risk factors never develop the disease. Many who are diagnosed have no identifiable risk factors.
HOW HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA DEVELOPS
Hodgkin’s lymphoma usually starts in lymph nodes. Since lymph tissues all over the body are connected, abnormal (cancerous) lymphocytes can circulate in the lymphatic vessels. As a result, Hodgkin’s lymphoma often spreads from one lymph node to another throughout the body. Hodgkin’s lymphoma can also spread to other areas and organs outside the lymph system. Unlike other lymphomas, Hodgkin’s lymphoma tends to spread more in sequence from one lymph node area to the next, skipping areas less frequently than NHL.
http://www.lymphoma.org/
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Well...
I can honestly say that since I've been off the internet I have learned many lessions and experienced feelings that are new to me. I never thought I'd actually feel hatred toward someone, I was taught better than that. I've had to learn patience, which is not one of my better virtues. I feel I've been hit with a ton of bricks. Health and family issues arise at the worst of times. Clarity of mind is certainly not at the top of my list right now. Karma is a very interesting creature, she is about to strike again. Vengeance is mine, one way or another.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Pull up your trousers!!!
This photo shows a general view of Atlanta, Georgia. Baggy trousers that hang way below the belt and expose what the wearer has on underneath could soon be banned in the southern US city of Atlanta, a city council spokesman said.(AFP/File)
Monday, August 20, 2007
Hurricane Dean
"Mean Dean" as they are calling it, Hurricane Dean is on it's way to Cancun, Mexico. Be careful! Cuidado!My Birthday
Well I had an okay birthday, it was the 10th. My mum's uncle passed away on that day. I did not make it to his funeral because of work. My grandmum and aunt came up from Florida for a few days. All is well as can be now. Take care!
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Alex Rodriguez becomes youngest in baseball history to hit 500 home runs
Alex Rodriguez becomes youngest in baseball history to hit 500 home runs
By JAY COHEN, AP Sports Writer
August 4, 2007
NEW YORK (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez leaned to his right and watched the ball as it sailed toward the foul pole in left. When it stayed true, he raised his hands in the air -- the long wait for No. 500 was finally over.
Rodriguez became the youngest player in major league history to hit 500 home runs, connecting on the first pitch he saw Saturday to end a 10-day wait.
"I acted like a goofball running around the bases, but you only hit 500 once," he said after the New York Yankees beat Kansas City 16-8.
The 32-year-old Rodriguez stood at home plate for a second after his first-inning drive off Kyle Davies, waiting to see where it would land.
"I haven't hit one in so long I didn't know if it was going to be foul," he said. "Where that ball started, last week that ball would've hooked foul probably about 20 feet."
After more than a week of watching his teammates hit a lot of home runs, it was A-Rod's turn. He started trotting around the bases with a wide grin on his face as the sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium cheered wildly. He finished with three hits, along with a hug from Derek Jeter.
"I've conceded the fact that you can't will yourself to hit a home run. I tried hard for about five days," Rodriguez said.
A-Rod spoke with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and commissioner Bud Selig after the game. Selig was expected to be in San Diego to watch Barry Bonds try to break Hank Aaron's career home run record, and reportedly hasn't talked to the Giants slugger in years.
Rodriguez homered eight days after his birthday and surpassed Jimmie Foxx (32 years, 338 days) as the youngest player to reach 500. A-Rod is the 22nd player to reach the mark, the second this season behind Frank Thomas -- Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome might get there this year, too.
It may not take very long for Rodriguez to rise to the top of the list, either. Bonds was two away from breaking Aaron's record of 755 heading into San Francisco's game Saturday night.
Rodriguez leads the majors with 36 home runs this season, one more than he hit last year.
"His prime years are ahead of him, basically," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "This is a stop-off for him. It's not a destination."
Rodriguez hugged Jeter and Bobby Abreu, who both scored on the landmark home run, and blew a kiss toward the stands after completing his trip around the bases. His teammates were already on the field and he embraced several of them on his way back to the bench.
"It was awesome and then you kind of get that high school reception when you hit a home run and all of the guys are out of the dugout," Rodriguez said. "It was awesome. Pretty cool."
The crowd buzzed and roared again when A-Rod stuck his head out of the dugout for the long-awaited curtain call, which came 10 days after he hit No. 499.
"He deserves it," teammate Johnny Damon said. "He has been a tremendous asset to this game."
After he took his seat next to Jeter, the Yankees captain reached out and playfully rubbed A-Rod's head as the two superstars laughed. They were close when they were younger but Rodriguez admitted in spring training that their relationship had cooled over the years.
The All-Star third baseman became the third player to hit 500 as a Yankee and the second to do it in the Bronx. Babe Ruth did it at Cleveland on Aug. 11, 1929, and Mickey Mantle reached the mark at home against Baltimore on May 14, 1967.
"Nobody wants to give up a homer, be a part of history that way," Davies said. "I was trying to throw a sinker down and in and I didn't get it down and in far enough."
Rodriguez went into a tailspin after hitting No. 499 on July 25 at Kansas City. He was hitless in a career-worst 22 straight at-bats before ending the slump Thursday.
His 500th came in his 1,855th game. Only two players took fewer games to reach 500: Mark McGwire (1,639) and Ruth (1,740).
"This was a fantastic, monumental achievement," Steinbrenner said in a statement released by spokesman Howard Rubenstein.
A Rutgers student ended up with the ball, and the Yankees said he didn't want to be identified. Team spokesman Jason Zillo was negotiating with the man about the ball.
"I really want it back," Rodriguez said. "But if not, I congratulate him for catching it. Nice catch."
In the meantime, his batting helmet was headed for the Hall of Fame.
A-Rod and Yankees fans have had an up-and-down relationship since he joined the team in 2004.
"It takes awhile in New York," Rodriguez said. "For some people, it takes six months to a year. I think it truly took me three to four years to understand New York."
Robinson Cano tied a career high with four hits and Bobby Abreu scored four runs for New York, which has won five of its last six to improve to a season-best 10 games over .500. Mike Myers (3-0) got the last out of the fifth to earn the win.
Davies lasted just three innings in his first start for Kansas City, which acquired him from the Braves on Tuesday for reliever Octavio Dotel. John Bale (0-1) got the loss.
Rodriguez was the overall No. 1 pick in the 1993 draft by Seattle. One year later, he became the third 18-year-old shortstop in the majors since 1900. At that point, he gave little indication that he would develop into a two-time AL MVP and one of the game's greatest home run hitters.
A-Rod's first home run came on June 12, 1995, against Tom Gordon and Kansas City.
Notes:
Rodriguez scored three times and became the first player in major league history with 10 straight seasons of at least 35 homers, 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-rodriguez-500homers&prov=ap&type=lgns
By JAY COHEN, AP Sports Writer
August 4, 2007
NEW YORK (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez leaned to his right and watched the ball as it sailed toward the foul pole in left. When it stayed true, he raised his hands in the air -- the long wait for No. 500 was finally over.
Rodriguez became the youngest player in major league history to hit 500 home runs, connecting on the first pitch he saw Saturday to end a 10-day wait.
"I acted like a goofball running around the bases, but you only hit 500 once," he said after the New York Yankees beat Kansas City 16-8.
The 32-year-old Rodriguez stood at home plate for a second after his first-inning drive off Kyle Davies, waiting to see where it would land.
"I haven't hit one in so long I didn't know if it was going to be foul," he said. "Where that ball started, last week that ball would've hooked foul probably about 20 feet."
After more than a week of watching his teammates hit a lot of home runs, it was A-Rod's turn. He started trotting around the bases with a wide grin on his face as the sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium cheered wildly. He finished with three hits, along with a hug from Derek Jeter.
"I've conceded the fact that you can't will yourself to hit a home run. I tried hard for about five days," Rodriguez said.
A-Rod spoke with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and commissioner Bud Selig after the game. Selig was expected to be in San Diego to watch Barry Bonds try to break Hank Aaron's career home run record, and reportedly hasn't talked to the Giants slugger in years.
Rodriguez homered eight days after his birthday and surpassed Jimmie Foxx (32 years, 338 days) as the youngest player to reach 500. A-Rod is the 22nd player to reach the mark, the second this season behind Frank Thomas -- Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome might get there this year, too.
It may not take very long for Rodriguez to rise to the top of the list, either. Bonds was two away from breaking Aaron's record of 755 heading into San Francisco's game Saturday night.
Rodriguez leads the majors with 36 home runs this season, one more than he hit last year.
"His prime years are ahead of him, basically," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "This is a stop-off for him. It's not a destination."
Rodriguez hugged Jeter and Bobby Abreu, who both scored on the landmark home run, and blew a kiss toward the stands after completing his trip around the bases. His teammates were already on the field and he embraced several of them on his way back to the bench.
"It was awesome and then you kind of get that high school reception when you hit a home run and all of the guys are out of the dugout," Rodriguez said. "It was awesome. Pretty cool."
The crowd buzzed and roared again when A-Rod stuck his head out of the dugout for the long-awaited curtain call, which came 10 days after he hit No. 499.
"He deserves it," teammate Johnny Damon said. "He has been a tremendous asset to this game."
After he took his seat next to Jeter, the Yankees captain reached out and playfully rubbed A-Rod's head as the two superstars laughed. They were close when they were younger but Rodriguez admitted in spring training that their relationship had cooled over the years.
The All-Star third baseman became the third player to hit 500 as a Yankee and the second to do it in the Bronx. Babe Ruth did it at Cleveland on Aug. 11, 1929, and Mickey Mantle reached the mark at home against Baltimore on May 14, 1967.
"Nobody wants to give up a homer, be a part of history that way," Davies said. "I was trying to throw a sinker down and in and I didn't get it down and in far enough."
Rodriguez went into a tailspin after hitting No. 499 on July 25 at Kansas City. He was hitless in a career-worst 22 straight at-bats before ending the slump Thursday.
His 500th came in his 1,855th game. Only two players took fewer games to reach 500: Mark McGwire (1,639) and Ruth (1,740).
"This was a fantastic, monumental achievement," Steinbrenner said in a statement released by spokesman Howard Rubenstein.
A Rutgers student ended up with the ball, and the Yankees said he didn't want to be identified. Team spokesman Jason Zillo was negotiating with the man about the ball.
"I really want it back," Rodriguez said. "But if not, I congratulate him for catching it. Nice catch."
In the meantime, his batting helmet was headed for the Hall of Fame.
A-Rod and Yankees fans have had an up-and-down relationship since he joined the team in 2004.
"It takes awhile in New York," Rodriguez said. "For some people, it takes six months to a year. I think it truly took me three to four years to understand New York."
Robinson Cano tied a career high with four hits and Bobby Abreu scored four runs for New York, which has won five of its last six to improve to a season-best 10 games over .500. Mike Myers (3-0) got the last out of the fifth to earn the win.
Davies lasted just three innings in his first start for Kansas City, which acquired him from the Braves on Tuesday for reliever Octavio Dotel. John Bale (0-1) got the loss.
Rodriguez was the overall No. 1 pick in the 1993 draft by Seattle. One year later, he became the third 18-year-old shortstop in the majors since 1900. At that point, he gave little indication that he would develop into a two-time AL MVP and one of the game's greatest home run hitters.
A-Rod's first home run came on June 12, 1995, against Tom Gordon and Kansas City.
Notes:
Rodriguez scored three times and became the first player in major league history with 10 straight seasons of at least 35 homers, 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-rodriguez-500homers&prov=ap&type=lgns
Another record poppy crop in Afghanistan
Another record poppy crop in Afghanistan
By MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writer
Sat Aug 4, 12:27 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Afghanistan will produce another record poppy harvest this year that cements its status as the world's near-sole supplier of the heroin source, yet a furious debate over how to reverse the trend is stalling proposals to cut the crop, U.S. officials say.
As President Bush prepares for weekend talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, divisions within the U.S. administration and among NATO allies have delayed release of a $475 million counternarcotics program for Afghanistan, where intelligence officials see growing links between drugs and the Taliban, the officials said.
U.N. figures to be released in September are expected to show that Afghanistan's poppy production has risen up to 15 percent since 2006 and that the country now accounts for 95 percent of the world's crop, 3 percentage points more than last year, officials familiar with preliminary statistics told The Associated Press.
But counterdrug proposals by some U.S. officials have met fierce resistance, including boosting the amount of forcible poppy field destruction in provinces that grow the most, officials said. The approach also would link millions of dollars in development aid to benchmarks on eradication; arrests and prosecutions of narcotraders, corrupt officials; and on alternative crop production.
Those ideas represent what proponents call an "enhanced carrot-and-stick approach" to supplement existing anti-drug efforts. They are the focus of the new $475 million program outlined in a 995-page report, the release of which has been postponed twice and may be again delayed due to disagreements, officials said.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because parts of the report remain classified.
Counternarcotics agents at the State Department had wanted to release a 123-page summary of the strategy last month and then again last week, but were forced to hold off because of concerns it may not be feasible, the officials said.
Now, even as Bush sees Karzai on Sunday and Monday at the presidential retreat in Camp David, Md., a tentative release date of Aug. 9, timed to follow the meetings, appears in jeopardy. Some in the administration, along with NATO allies Britain and Canada, seek revisions that could delay it until at least Aug. 13, the officials said.
The program represents a 13 percent increase over the $420 million in U.S. counternarcotics aid to Afghanistan last year. It would adopt a bold new approach to "coercive eradication" and set out criteria for local officials to receive development assistance based on their cooperation, the officials said.
Although the existing aid, supplemented mainly by Britain and Canada and supported by the NATO force in Afghanistan, has achieved some results — notably an expected rise in the number of "poppy-free" provinces from six to at least 12 and possibly 16, mainly in the north — production elsewhere has soared, they said.
"Afghanistan is providing close to 95 percent of the world's heroin," the State Department's top counternarcotics official, Tom Schweich, said at a recent conference. "That makes it almost a sole-source supplier" and presents a situation "unique in world history."
Almost all the heroin from Afghanistan makes its way to Europe; most of the heroin in the U.S. comes from Latin America.
Afghanistan last year accounted for 92 percent of global opium production, compared with 70 percent in 2000 and 52 percent a decade earlier. The higher yields in Afghanistan brought world production to a record high of 7,286 tons in 2006, 43 percent more than in 2005.
A State Department inspector general's report released Friday noted that the counternarcotics assistance is dwarfed by the estimated $38 billion "street value" of Afghanistan's poppy crop, if all is converted to heroin, and said eradication goals were "not realistic."
Schweich, an advocate of the now-stalled plan, has argued for more vigorous eradication efforts, particularly in southern Helmand province, responsible for some 80 percent of Afghanistan's poppy production. It is where, he says, growers must be punished for ignoring good-faith appeals to switch to alternative, but less lucrative, crops.
"They need to be dealt with in a more severe way," he said at the conference sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "There needs to be a coercive element, that's something we're not going to back away from or shy away from."
But, in fact, many question whether this is the right approach with Afghanistan mired in poverty and in the throes of an insurgency run by the Taliban and residual al-Qaida forces.
Along with Britain, whose troops patrol Helmand, elements in the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, the Defense Department and White House Office of National Drug Control Policy have expressed concern, saying that more raids will drive farmers with no other income to join extremists.
There is also skepticism about the incentives in the new strategy from those who believe development assistance should not be denied to local communities because of poppy growth, officials said.
Opponents argue that the benefits of such aid, new roads and other infrastructure, schools and hospitals, will themselves be powerful tools to combat the narcotrade once constructed.
One U.S. official said the plan was a good one but might take another year or two before it can be effectively introduced.
___
On the Net:
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/
State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs:
http://www.state.gov/p/inl/
Audio link to comments on new strategy by acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Thomas Schweich at the Center for Strategic and International Studies:
http://www.csis.org/component/option,com_csis_events/task,view/id,1350/
U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime:
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/index.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070804/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_afghanistan
By MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writer
Sat Aug 4, 12:27 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Afghanistan will produce another record poppy harvest this year that cements its status as the world's near-sole supplier of the heroin source, yet a furious debate over how to reverse the trend is stalling proposals to cut the crop, U.S. officials say.
As President Bush prepares for weekend talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, divisions within the U.S. administration and among NATO allies have delayed release of a $475 million counternarcotics program for Afghanistan, where intelligence officials see growing links between drugs and the Taliban, the officials said.
U.N. figures to be released in September are expected to show that Afghanistan's poppy production has risen up to 15 percent since 2006 and that the country now accounts for 95 percent of the world's crop, 3 percentage points more than last year, officials familiar with preliminary statistics told The Associated Press.
But counterdrug proposals by some U.S. officials have met fierce resistance, including boosting the amount of forcible poppy field destruction in provinces that grow the most, officials said. The approach also would link millions of dollars in development aid to benchmarks on eradication; arrests and prosecutions of narcotraders, corrupt officials; and on alternative crop production.
Those ideas represent what proponents call an "enhanced carrot-and-stick approach" to supplement existing anti-drug efforts. They are the focus of the new $475 million program outlined in a 995-page report, the release of which has been postponed twice and may be again delayed due to disagreements, officials said.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because parts of the report remain classified.
Counternarcotics agents at the State Department had wanted to release a 123-page summary of the strategy last month and then again last week, but were forced to hold off because of concerns it may not be feasible, the officials said.
Now, even as Bush sees Karzai on Sunday and Monday at the presidential retreat in Camp David, Md., a tentative release date of Aug. 9, timed to follow the meetings, appears in jeopardy. Some in the administration, along with NATO allies Britain and Canada, seek revisions that could delay it until at least Aug. 13, the officials said.
The program represents a 13 percent increase over the $420 million in U.S. counternarcotics aid to Afghanistan last year. It would adopt a bold new approach to "coercive eradication" and set out criteria for local officials to receive development assistance based on their cooperation, the officials said.
Although the existing aid, supplemented mainly by Britain and Canada and supported by the NATO force in Afghanistan, has achieved some results — notably an expected rise in the number of "poppy-free" provinces from six to at least 12 and possibly 16, mainly in the north — production elsewhere has soared, they said.
"Afghanistan is providing close to 95 percent of the world's heroin," the State Department's top counternarcotics official, Tom Schweich, said at a recent conference. "That makes it almost a sole-source supplier" and presents a situation "unique in world history."
Almost all the heroin from Afghanistan makes its way to Europe; most of the heroin in the U.S. comes from Latin America.
Afghanistan last year accounted for 92 percent of global opium production, compared with 70 percent in 2000 and 52 percent a decade earlier. The higher yields in Afghanistan brought world production to a record high of 7,286 tons in 2006, 43 percent more than in 2005.
A State Department inspector general's report released Friday noted that the counternarcotics assistance is dwarfed by the estimated $38 billion "street value" of Afghanistan's poppy crop, if all is converted to heroin, and said eradication goals were "not realistic."
Schweich, an advocate of the now-stalled plan, has argued for more vigorous eradication efforts, particularly in southern Helmand province, responsible for some 80 percent of Afghanistan's poppy production. It is where, he says, growers must be punished for ignoring good-faith appeals to switch to alternative, but less lucrative, crops.
"They need to be dealt with in a more severe way," he said at the conference sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "There needs to be a coercive element, that's something we're not going to back away from or shy away from."
But, in fact, many question whether this is the right approach with Afghanistan mired in poverty and in the throes of an insurgency run by the Taliban and residual al-Qaida forces.
Along with Britain, whose troops patrol Helmand, elements in the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, the Defense Department and White House Office of National Drug Control Policy have expressed concern, saying that more raids will drive farmers with no other income to join extremists.
There is also skepticism about the incentives in the new strategy from those who believe development assistance should not be denied to local communities because of poppy growth, officials said.
Opponents argue that the benefits of such aid, new roads and other infrastructure, schools and hospitals, will themselves be powerful tools to combat the narcotrade once constructed.
One U.S. official said the plan was a good one but might take another year or two before it can be effectively introduced.
___
On the Net:
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/
State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs:
http://www.state.gov/p/inl/
Audio link to comments on new strategy by acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Thomas Schweich at the Center for Strategic and International Studies:
http://www.csis.org/component/option,com_csis_events/task,view/id,1350/
U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime:
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/index.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070804/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_afghanistan
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